Xi meets ROK president, calls for advancing bilateral ties

This year bears historical significance for China and the ROK, as important progress has been made on bilateral ties, Moon said, hoping to further expand cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, culture, sports and environmental protection, further align the Belt and Road Initiative with the New Southern Policy and the New Northern Policy of the ROK, and speed up cooperation on jointly exploring the third markets.

He also pledged to strengthen communication with the Chinese side and continue to hand over the remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

"Both Hong Kong affairs and issues concerning Xinjiang are China's internal affairs," Moon said.

With a time-honored history of exchanges and shared cultural roots, the ROK and China form a community of shared future, Moon said, voicing confidence that the two countries will usher in a new era of bilateral ties.

The ROK understands China's position on major issues, supports free trade, and is willing to continue strengthening communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, he said.

The two heads of state also exchanged opinions on the Korean Peninsula situation.

China and the ROK, with convergence of position and interests on the Korean Peninsula issue, both uphold peace and stability of the peninsula and maintain that problems should be solved through dialogue and negotiations, Xi said.

China supports the ROK to continue improving ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to inject impetus into the Korean Peninsula peace talks process, he added.

Moon expressed appreciation for China's important role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue, saying that the opportunity of peacefully resolving the issue does not come easy, and the ROK is willing to work jointly with China to advance the peace process of the Korean Peninsula.

Moon is in China to attend the 8th China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting, scheduled to be held in China's southwestern city of Chengdu on Tuesday.